For this reason, also, God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name above every name. (Philippians 2:9, NASB)
In sports, we have GOATs (Greatest of All Time). Basketball has Michael Jordan, football has Tom Brady, hockey has Wayne Gretzky, and boxing has Muhammed Ali. Who is golf’s GOAT?
There will always be arguments over who is the greatest of all time in golf – Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods.
I believe Ben Hogan belongs in the argument based on his win percentage from the 1946 PGA through the 1953 British Open. He won nine of the sixteen majors he competed in during that stretch. Nonetheless, when it comes to the greatest name in golf, it comes down to Jack vs. Tiger (to limit the number of email responses, I will keep my vote silent).
Regardless of whether you accept the list above, according to scripture, there is one name above all others. Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians, “…that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).
This is a humbling thought. Regardless of our opinions or what we value and believe is important, we will all ultimately recognize Jesus as the GOAT.
The Apostle Paul suggests that we start doing it now. Unfortunately, many of us find excuses because our personal agendas get in the way. We postpone making Jesus the Lord of our lives because we have other things that matter more.
We have our own goals and aspirations and delay genuinely committing our lives to Christ, but this is not what is offered to us. He wants all of us now. He desires to begin his “work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). It is not good enough to claim him as the greatest – all will do that, even those on the wrong side of history.
It is not good enough to claim that Jesus is the greatest; we must pursue and invite him into our lives to change us. Yes, he is the greatest! But he also desires to bring his followers to himself and transform them. He said it this way:
“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:17-23)
Jesus is undoubtedly the greatest! It is not good enough to agree. We must submit to him and allow him to transform us into his likeness. Thankfully, he promises to complete the process once we enter his kingdom.
Prayer: Father, help me move beyond just accepting you as Lord with my words and invite you in to transform my heart and life